Improvement in cards for social gaivles



P. WEST 8|. 6. 3. LEE. Cards for SociaI Games.

No, 142,423. Patented Spteinber2;-,l873.

BIRDSOFPREY. I BI'RDS OF PREY.

SECEETARYBIH. SECRETARY BIRD- The Secretary Bird derives its name from curious feathery plumes, project ing from each side of its head and bearing a fanciful resemblance to pen; carried by men behind the ear. By some writers it has been placed among the wading birds, on account of its long legs; while others consider its proper place to be among the hawks and other birds of prey. It is an inhabitant of Southern Africa, and in most invaluable in destroying the serpent race, upon which it almost exeluaively feeds. This bird is very wary, rarely allowing a nearer approach than l 1 a one hundred yards, but is seldom if ever shot at, for a sportsman values vuuru as. as; r the bird for its deeds. In Cape c01- ony there is a. fine imposed upon those FALCON. 1 who are known to have shot them.

Fig'll v Fig. 2.

INVENTORS:

AM 1 1/076 -1 lif/MMP/l/C to. MX asaaRn [s Mums) PRESBURY WEST AND GEORGE S. LEE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

lMPRQVEMENT IN CARDS FOR SOCIAL GAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,423, dated September 2, 1873; application filed May 24, 1873.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be'it known that we, PRESBURY Wnsr and GEORGE S. LEE, both of the city and county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cards to be used in Playing Social Games; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a face view of one of a pair of the cards comprising the pack, and Fig. 2 represents a face view of the other card of the same pair.

Our invention is designed to furnish an amusing game, especially for young people, while at the same time serving to impart much information of a useful and instructive character relating to natural history. The principle of the invention consists in making the cards composing the pack in pairs, the face of one of each of the pairs having a picture or cut of a bird or other object of nature printed or otherwise formed thereon, while the face of each of the otherv cards of the same pairs has a short or brief description of the same birds or other objects of nature printed thereon. One pair of such cards is shown in the draw- 1n gs.

In Fig. La card is shown having on the face a picture of the secretary-bird, with its name, while in Fig. 2 a card is shown having on its face a short description of the same bird.

This game employs sixty-four cards, divided into eight groups, each group consisting of four pairs. One card of each pair has upon it an engraving of a bird with its name. The

companion card has upon it the description of the same bird.

The following are the terms used in playing:

Picture-Oard containing picture.

Description-Card containing description.

Pair-The illustrated card and its corresponding descriptioacard.

Pair Royal-Two pairs of the same group held at the same time.

Double Pair Royal-Three pairs of the same group held at the same time.

Boole-All the cards of one group held at the same time.

Stacking-Placing upon the table any pair, pair royal, double pair royal, or book that may be obtained according to the rules.

Group --The class to which the bird or birds may belong is invariably indicated at the head of each card, as Birds of Prey, Singing Birds, &c.

Scoring or Counting-Keeping account of what each individual makes according to the rules of the game.

Pair counts one; pair royal counts three;

double pair royal counts six 5 book counts ten.

The followingare the rules of the game:

This game can be played by any number of persons not exceeding eight.

First. Shuffle the cards and deal one at a time to each player in turn till all the cards are exhausted. The person at the left of the dealer then commences the game by calling upon any player for some card he does not hold, continuing to call upon whomsoever he pleases till he misses, when the next in turn commences to call in the same manner.

Second. It is imperative that in calling the one so doing should hold in his hand at least one-card of the eight forming the group for which he calls.

Third. When any player obtains a pair, he can, if he so choose, stack it upon the table, and score one 5 or, by retaining such pair and obtaining another of same group, make a pair royal, stack it, and count three; or, retaining the pair royal, gain another pair of same group, form a double pair royal, stack, and score six; or retain the double pair royal and in same manner form a book, which is then stacked, entitling the player to ten-the highest single count.

NOTE.--Thus a player holding in his hand the picture of the vulture calls for the description, which receiving, he is at liberty to stack the pair and count one; but if he retains it in hand, and at that or any subsequent call makes a pair-for instance, the eagle and its descriptioa-he can then stack his pair royal and count three; by holding it, however, and in the same manner drawing of the same groupz'. 6., birds of prey-the falcon and description, he will then hold a double pair royal, which, stacked, would count six 5 but holding these and gaining the last pair of the 2 Mensa group, the secretary-bird and its description, would give ten.

Fourth. When the player stacks his cards they should be placed face upward, convenient for reference; and when being so stacked the name of the group should be called, also, stating whether is stacked a pair, pair royal, double pair royal, or book.

Fifth. If in a deal any player should receive a pair, pair royal, or double pair royal, the player receiving such has no right to stack them for count until he shall have added another card of same group.

Sixth. A player having stacked a portion of a book, any one holding the whole remainder of the group can stack at pleasure.

Seventh. If a player having obtained a pair, pair royal, or double pair royal without losing his call should stack, making the score to which he is entitled, and then fortunately obtain another pair or more of the same group, he must consider those obtained after stacking the same as though he had not previously held any of the same group.

NOTE.-A player holding in his hand of the singing birds the lark and description, also canary and description, forming a pair royal, calls and receives from another player the mocking-bird and description, which he then stacks, counting six. He calls again, receiving the nightingale and description, which he stacks, counting only one additional, whereas if the last call had been made before stacking, ten would have been the count.

Eighth. A player calling for a card should, in every case, first mention the name of the rule is not complied with. Naming the cards in such order is a great convenience; requires presence of mind and attention, enhances the interest of the game, as well as facilitates rapid play.

Ninth. But one card can be called for at the same time.

NoTE.-Such expressions as eagle and mate, or description of vulture and mate, are not rulable.

Having described our improvements in cards to be used in playing social games, what we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent as an improved article of manufacture, is-

A pack of cards composed of a series of pairs or companion cards, one of each pair having a picture representing some natural or other object with its name, while the other contains a brief description of said object, substantially as shown and described.

PRESBURY WEST. GEORGE S. LEE. Witnesses:

JEROME A. KINSMAN, E. E. MOORE. 

